'Dark Knight Rises' Midnight Shooting — 12 Killed In Colorado Theater

A ‘maniac’ gunman shot and killed 12 innocent people at a Aurora, Colorado midnight screening of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ — how tragic. Find out all the details.

The gunman broke into an Aurora cinema and shot dead 12 people, and wounded 59 others during a late-night showing of the new Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises. The gunman, a 24-year-old 6ft. man, dressed in all black, donned a gas mask and a bullet proof vest before opening fire and setting off smoke bombs in the theater during a scene where Anne Hathaway was involved in a shootout.

Witnesses said the man “entered through the emergency exit at the front of the auditorium and began firing into the audience with a rifle and two handguns as he made his way up the stairs, picking his victims at random.”

The man was reportedly arrested in a car park nearby and told police that explosives were stored at his home. Police reportedly seized a rifle and a handgun from the suspect, and another gun was found in the theater. Police spokeswoman Cassidee Carlson said “the scene is still very active and we have little information for release at this time.”

At this time, there is no evident link to terrorism.

A San Diego woman claiming to be James’ mother spoke briefly with ABC News this morning. “You have the right person,” she said.

“I need to call the police,” she added. “I need to fly out to Colorado.”

In a statement, President Obama said, “Michelle and I are shocked and saddened by the horrific and tragic shooting in Colorado. Federal and local law enforcement are still responding, and my administration will do everything that we can to support the people of Aurora in this extraordinarily difficult time. We are committed to bringing whoever was responsible to justice, ensuring the safety of our people, and caring for those who have been wounded.”

UPDATE: Warner Bros. responds by canceling the Paris premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. New York City movie theaters will provide extra security at future showings in fear of any potential copycats.